Many students, especially younger ones, struggle to stay focused in the classroom. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects children and teens and can continue into adulthood. Lack of focus in the classroom means the student will have a hard time learning new things and at the same time it puts pressure on the teacher as well as the parents. Revibe Technologies, a NY-based startup wants to solve this issue with its wearable called Revibe Connect.
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Revibe Connect is a Fitbit-like wristband that vibrates to help the wearer stay focused. The founder of Revibe Tech is Rich Brancaccio, a former school psychologist. Brancaccio says that he saw students struggle to stay focused in the classroom; and worked with helpless parents that wanted to find a new way to approach the issue, reports Hypepotamus.
Brancaccio created an algorithm that would send vibration signals through the device to spark metacognitive awareness and snap the student out of a distracted state.
When the student needs to stay focused, the device makes whisper-quiet vibrations without attracting the attention of nearby peers. The battery lasts for 7 days.
“The more they wear it, the wearable starts figuring out when they’re in a certain class and how it should prompt them,” says Brancaccio.
Revibe collects six core metrics including overall focus, on-task score, activity, and fidgeting (tapping a pencil, moving the feet, etc.).
The dashboard displays the daily metrics, which can be seen by teachers, parents and students throughout the day. Based on that data, parents and teachers can provide recommendations on how to change the child’s activity to make them focus.
For example, research shows that a five-minute walk can help some students improve their focus, according to Brancaccio.
“Teachers and administrators would use our data to say, it looks like during language arts, for instance, this child really struggles. They can then send them on a short walk to refocus them,” Brancaccio says.
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The main unit is made from food grade plastic and contains no BPA/BPS, lead, or orphthalates. The wristband is made from ultra-strong nylon, and lined with soft, organic cotton.
The wearable has been used in over 2,000 schools, according to Revibe Tech.
Revibe is priced at $104.95, and can be bought through the company’s website.
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